Keeping Thailand Open

Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's Prime Minister, fancies himself an Asian visionary. He's behind a fund that would have Asians buy bonds issued by other Asians instead of sending their money to America. He even envisions a regional currency for Asia, like Europe's euro.

As the leader of the region's fastest-growing economy after China, and with a popularity rating of 70%, Thaksin is firmly in control and worth listening to. He has correctly read the populist mood of Thailand's farmers and has showered them with cheap credit to stimulate demand. As an ex-cop, he has also flexed his muscle as a law-and-order leader. A bloody, nationwide crackdown on drug dealers and criminals has accompanied a move against the once-booming sex trade. In an interview with BusinessWeek, Thaksin says he's an admirer of Asian leaders such as Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad and Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew.